#65 | Birth Story Mini: Jen's First VBAC After Placenta Previa

I needed a scheduled c section for my first son because of placenta previa. And after the C section, I was at peace with that, because I knew that it was necessary, but I still had some feelings of disappointment about it because I wasn't able to experience labor with him. So I knew I really wanted that the second time around. And during that pregnancy, I also had placenta previa. And luckily, my placenta ended up moving up about halfway or so through the pregnancy. And I started to panic a little bit because I realized, okay, I want a VBAC. But now I'm a little afraid to have a VBAC. And there were some red flags with my ob gyn and talking about the size of the baby and the various things that would lead her to, to suggest that I have a C section. So I felt like there were a lot of red flags with her. So I ended up switching to midwives. And I also took a hypno birthing class, which, really, both of those things I think, really gave me a lot of confidence, and made me feel like this is something that I can do. I felt like I knew what to expect going into the birth, I had support from my family, from my friends and my husband. And I also had the midwives really backing me and supporting me. They never once gave me any indication that having a VBAC was something that I couldn't do. Whenever I asked various questions like what if this happens, or what if that happens, they were always very quick to say, will always give you a trial of labor. So there was no doubt in my mind that I was really setting myself up for success. And when I went into my labor, I still felt good. I felt like I could do this. I wasn't having any doubts in my mind that I couldn't do it. Also, when why my water broke during the night, and then my labor did not progress as one would hope. So about 12 hours later, still, nothing was really happening. And my midwife really was so great about checking with me multiple times, to to really reassure me that she knew I really wanted to have a VBAC. She really was so great about making sure we were on the same page throughout my my labor. So she had me go to the hospital, to try to progress things a little bit naturally, with a full somewhat naturally with a fully bold catheter. And she just kept checking in with me to see how things were going and see how I felt about just the whole process and just confirming that I absolutely wanted to have a VBAC and, and never put any doubt in my mind that I couldn't have that VBAC. And in thinking about my labor, afterwards, I kind of realized that if I had stayed with my ob gyn, because of those red flags I had seen, kind of popping up earlier on, I really do think there would have been a lot more of a conversation about possibly needing a C section with the way my my Libra wasn't really progressing too much at the beginning. So definitely, in hindsight, I certainly felt like it was also the right decision when I when I thought about it more afterwards. And I just felt I felt very supported during my labor, I felt confident. And after my son was born, my I sort of, I guess I needed my husband to say to me, you did it, you you got your VBAC that you wanted.

And it's just sort of hit me at that moment that I did do it. I I got the VBAC that I wanted, I had the birth that I wanted for myself and my baby. And it was the single most empowering moment of my entire life. I just felt so proud of myself, because I knew that I didn't not only did I do it, but I really did have to do some things to kind of fight for it. I had to make the decision to switch to midwives who I knew would be very supportive of my wishes to have a VBAC. And I just, I felt like taking that I think of it as like an action step that I took. That was something that I did to help my future with with my birth. And I also and also taking the hypnobirthing class was another thing that I did that really empowered me to feel like I could do it. I didn't have any fear during my labor. Any thoughts about my uterus rupturing or anything that I had heard from my obgyn or anyone else for that matter? was just gone. It wasn't even a thought in my mind during my labor. And so it was just, it was such an amazing experience to go into it with the confidence and without any fear. Just knowing that I was making the right decision this this was right for me and my baby. And I really can't recommend enough. If you are a candidate for a C section, and most women are definitely do your research, look into it. Learn what you can and realize that you can do this. And I really would just love it if more women could have the same experience that I did. And not only that was an experience amazing, but I felt like all of those, those decisions that I made and and having the VBAC with my second son really helped pave the way for the birth that I had with my third son, who was also another VBAC. And he arrived into this world very quickly and smoothly. And it was just was just amazing. So it was yet another awesome birth experience that, you know, I would just love for it for any woman to be able to experience and I just walked away from those experiences just so proud of myself and the decisions I had made to help myself be successful and have the birth that I wanted.

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